Community Resources (Devon) CIC
Winner of the Gordon Ford Trophy for the
‘Best Neighbourhood Award’
2010

Ilfracombe

Ilfracombe is a town of some 10500 people and is situated on the north Devon coast, within
the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is the major resort town of north
Devon, a popular all year round destination that combines a contemporary atmosphere with
old world heritage and attracts a wide mix of visitors from families staying at the holiday parks
and camp-sites to people wanting a quiet weekend break at a boutique B&B. There is much for
visitors to do and see from walking, water sports or just wandering about the town and tasting
the fantastic local food on offer.

Ilfracombe in Bloom is in it’s 27th year and for most of those years we have

participated in the regional ‘in Bloom’ competition. We organise container planting and
distribution throughout the centre of town and are gradually taking over/creating pocket
garden areas with sustainable planting. We co-ordinate our efforts with other groups and liase
with businesses and organisations. Numerous new projects have been started through our
committee’s enthusiasm to improve Ilfracombe for the benefit of all.
Our aims are: 1. To increase civic pride through local people taking on the planning and management of their
local environment.
2. To decorate the central area of the town to make it a pleasant place to live, work and visit.
3. To help promote tourism, business and a healthy vibrant town.
4. To increase the areas that have permanent planting.
All sections of the community are welcomed as a network of individuals and organisations that
are able to support our aims through either financial or practical help. We aim to ensure that
all residents are able to play a full part in assisting our aims and encourage the widest possible
participation in all activities regardless of disability, sex or race.
President:

In addition a team of local people come to help with planting, clearing etc.

2

Horticultural
Achievement

Impact
In the autumn we again planted the four boats with primulas, which in spite of the cold winter
and snow were still in flower when removed in May ready for the summer planting. When lifted
as many as possible were replanted in the various pocket gardens around the town. We also
planted spring and summer flowering bulbs in Victoria Place.
For the summer we have planted the four boats with red & pink begonias. The hanging baskets
& towers in the High Street, mangers on the Seafront and the bandstand are a mixture of
begonias, geraniums, bacopea and creeping jenny and the colour scheme is apricot, red and
white. The two large towers at Mill Head & St Brannocks Road include bacopea, red geraniums
& pink trailing petunias.
The North Devon Joint Delivery Team have been instrumental in creating a ‘café culture’ area
by widening pavements and resurfacing the road at the bottom of Fore Street and along Broad
Street. They asked if we could plant and maintain permanent planters if they supplied them.
For this year they have also paid for the compost and plants. In addition to those supplied we
have been able to add a further three, thanks to any anonymous donation that we received, to
complete the project. These have been planted up with geraniums and begonias in a various
colours with dianthus and creeping jenny around the edge. We will look to include some
permanent planting for the future.

Ready for Planting

Planted

In full Bloom

This spring we teamed up with Devon County Council & North Devon Council to improve the
gardens in Trinity Place, to make them more open and a feature in the town once again –
much like they were many years ago. Working with North Devon Council the shrubs have been
cut back and the ground cleared of ivy and weeds. The three birch trees that were a health &
safety risk, as the roots were lifting the pavements, were removed by Devon County Council
and the hard landscaping has been cleaned by the fire brigade as part of the April spring clean
of the town. Ilfracombe in Bloom has now planted the area with a variety of small shrubs,
including lavandula, cistus, hydrangea, ceonothus & thyme, as well as some perennials and will
continue to add further planting and maintain this area.

3

With the help of Community Resources Devon CIC a small area at the junction of St Brannocks
Road and Bicclescombe Park Road which has been very over grown for many years has now
been cleared and planted with a variety of small shrubs and perennials.

Horticultural Practice
Most of the annual planting done by Ilfracombe in Bloom has been done using Durstons Peat
Free Compost with Revive from Viridor with slow release feed. The displays are watered,
weeded and deadheaded on a regular basis and regularly fed with Tomorite. The major
displays are watered with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;greyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; water taken from a private source, for which there is a licence
to extract. The displays on the bandstand have an automated water supply and for the
remainder of areas wherever possible we use water from rainwater butts. All our troughs have
a water reservoir, as do the new planters in Broad Street, so cutting down on the amount of
watering required.
We continue to replace bedding plants in areas we are responsible for with shrubs, perennials
and bulbs wherever possible, thus increasing the year round interest. This is part of our
sustainability campaign. When dismantling the displays at the end of the season plants are
saved where possible or composted and the compost is spread over permanent planted areas
such as the Wilder Road gardens.
North Devon Council have reduced the use of seasonal bedding, replacing with shrubs and
herbaceous borders, supplemented with some seasonal bedding. Peat free compost is used
and discarded bedding plants are recycled by being dug in or composted. Leaf litter is made
into leafmold for soil conditioning. Community Resources clients use plants they have grown
themselves in their allotment, or have had donated to them, for their seasonal planting.
There are several development sites in the town where we expect to see considerable
improvement during the next year with some mature planting. The McCarthy & Stone
development overlooking the harbour is due for completion next spring and the derelict hotel
on the seafront owned by Wetherspoons is scheduled to be demolished and rebuilding to
commence this autumn.

4

Residential & Community Gardening
There is a thriving local gardens competition run by Mike Edmunds on our behalf. He arranges
for someone from outside the area to carry out the judging – they have come from as far away
as Australia in the past! Judging takes place in July with the awards being presented at the
AGM of Ilfracombe in Bloom to which all entrants are invited and is followed by a magnificent
buffet courtesy of Mr and Mrs Edmunds. Ivan Frances, our chairman, received the ‘Outstanding
Achievement’ award for 2010.

Ilfracombe Allotment and Leisure Garden Association has 60 allotments that are
scattered throughout the town on 5 sites. The rules of the association are very tight and
anyone that does not adhere to the rules is asked to vacate their plot. This ensures that all
plots are looked after properly. The allotment availability is limited by the lack of suitable land
and because of this there is a waiting list of some 75 persons. Every year the allotment
holders hold an AGM and a competition to show off their produce. At this meeting there is
usually a speaker on some horticultural topic. Because the Allotment Association encourages
these ‘get togethers’ there is a great feeling of camaraderie and most plot holders do their best
to help their neighbours.
In addition to those allotments run by the local association Greener Ilfracombe has community
allotments at Calf Green and are creating new community ones at Laston Green and both
Infant & Junior schools grow their own vegetables.
Car Parks – At Wilder Road car park we have repaired and painted the low fencing around the
beds with the help of volunteers. Also cut back some of the large shrubs which has allowed
some perennial plants to appear again this year. In addition we have planted some hydrangea
and potentilla. The other main car parks are in more exposed areas and have larger shrubs
which are maintained by North Devon Council.

6

Business Areas and Premises
A number of the High Street Shops have baskets – some of their own and several that are
purchased through us and which we maintain and water through the summer for a small
additional charge.

Webbers Estate Agents & Roomers

Tunnels Beaches Bath House

Buddy’s American Bar

The Avalon

Carlton Hotel

Mullacott Park

Green Spaces -

Ilfracombe is surrounded by its natural beauty, which includes
Hillsborough, Capstone Hill and the Torrs but has few man made green spaces, the main ones
being Bicclescombe Park, St James Park, the Seafront & Runnymede Gardens all of which are
owned by North Devon Council.
Bicclescombe Park celebrates it’s centenary in August this year. The Parks & Amenities team
were again successful in retaining the Green Flag award for a seventh year in 2010. Several
community groups are involved with Bicclescombe park. There is the Bicclescombe Park User
Group which meets quarterly, the 50+ Group who meet monthly. Also the Ilfracombe Tennis
Club which has been in existance since 1947 and the Ilfracombe Model Boat Club which was
formed in 2001. A group of ‘Mums’ have started holding events to raise funds for new play
equipment and have raised enough to purchase two new pieces. Karen Hawkins, with the help
of the Community Resources group has cleaned and repaired the mosaics by the lake.

St James Park

Bicclescombe Park Mosaic

7

Bicclescombe Park in Spring

Seafront Crazy Golf

Runnymede Gardens

North Devon Journal 9th February 2011

North Devon Journal 10th August 2010

8

Southern Slopes

Marlborough Road Cemetery, with it’s breath taking views, including sea views is looked
after by North Devon Council. The cemetery is 8.88 acres in size and came into operation in
1926. A small chapel is situated at the entrance to the cemetery and there is a pretty
woodland wild flower area for the scattering of ashes.
With traditional Monterey pine trees, drifts of daffodils March/April and sustainable landscape
maintenance, the cemetery is made up of 22 blocks which comprise of the following style
plots: traditional, lawn memorial, cremation and child. Wildlife is also an important feature
within the cemetery, including squirrels,foxes, badgers, woodpeckers, jackdaws and other
varieties of birds.

As part of the RHS & Woodland Trust’s ‘Planting Trees for the Community’ we had a yearround colour pack of 105 trees. Half we shared between the junior school for their woodland
area, North Devon Council to plant in Bicclescombe Park & the War Memorial gardens to
replace the birch trees that had bee removed. The remainder we planted at the new skate
Park, Benricks, with the help of young skate park users and Transform on March 26th to start
to create a hedge.

North Devon Journal April 2011

9

Permanent Planting

Wilder Road Gardens

Southern Slopes

Local Garden in May

Local Garden in July

Albert Court

Runnymede Gardens

Sensory Garden â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bicclescombe Park

Bicclescombe Park

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Summer Displays 2011

Victoria Place

Planter on the Cove

Boat at Hele

Bicclescombe Park

Round Table Sponsored Boats

Bandstand in Runnymede Gardens

Tower in St Brannocks Road

Troughs ready for going out

Ilfracombe Rotary Sponsored Boat

11

ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Conservation & Biodiversity
Ilfracombe sits in the middle of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the
Coastal Preservation Zone. The North Devon Voluntary Marine Conservation Area was set up in
1994 and is now managed through the Devon Wildlife Trust, to raise awareness of the
importance of the sea and the wildlife that supports it. Stretching from Combe Martin to
Croyde and to an offshore depth of 20 metres. The area includes a range of valuable marine
habitats from rocky shores and muddy harbours to sandy beaches and coves. They support a
great diversity of wildlife including rare and unusual creatures such as cold-water corals,
porpoises and seals.
Hillsborough is a local nature reserve overlooking the town and harbour. The great banked
earthworks of an Iron Age fort are still very visible today. Work was carried out last winter,
mainly by volunteers, to help conserve this area.

North Devon Journal 3rd February 2011

12

Mullacott Roundabout is owned by Devon County Council but Ilfracombe in Bloom was
responsible for the design and implementation of the natural landscape in 1990 and we
continue to maintain and replant as necessary. The roundabout is 800ft above sea level and
exposed from every direction to sea winds, being one of the highest points in the area.
The central area is planted as a wild flower meadow. Surrounding this is a rockscape with
heathers, junipers, native rockroses, gorse and very large rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;outcropsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with scree slopes.
The grass verge is mowed on a regular basis and the clippings removed in order to reduce the
fertility of the soil and encourage wild plants. This fringe is planted with wild daffodils and
primroses. The central wild-flower meadow is managed as a hay meadow and the balance of
flowers varies from year to year. The whole area is cut in September and the clippings left for
several days to release the seeds before being raked up and removed for composting.

Tunnels Beaches continue to shine like coastal gems ...and that's official, having retained
their Blue Flags in recognition of their high quality. They have once again met stringent criteria
in environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and services
and water quality.

13

The Cairn Pleasure Ground & Old Railway - The Cairn is some 15 hectares of mixed
woodland and grassland. Work to improve what was a rocky outcrop was started in 1893 by
Ilfracombe Town Council who created paths and benches. Around 1900 – 1912 further paths
were added plus trees planted, mainly conifers and beech. In addition a tea room/shelter was
added near the top. Up until 2001 the level of maintenance gradually declined with the
subsequent loss of biodiversity and ability for the public to access the Cairn. In 2001 the Cairn
Conservation Carers group was formed with two main aims (1) To improve the biodiversity and
(2) To improve and maintain the numerous paths, create new ones and rediscover some
original ones.
They have mainly spent the last year continuing conservation works clearing bramble, bracken
etc in specific areas on the Cairn, Bailey’s Cleave and Bailey’s woods in order to provide
improved habitats for wildflowers, birds and butterflies. The spraying of Bailey’s Cleave
Bracken with Asulox by NDC has proven to be highly successful with less than 10% of bracken
remaining in the areas sprayed. It is intended to spray the remaining areas this year in the
hope of reducing the incidence to near zero and thus allow the wildflowers etc. to flourish once
more, they do of course leave some areas of bracken untouched as these provide habitats for
some butterflies and birds and provide shelter for small mammals. It has already been noticed
that the lesser butterfly orchids are significantly on the increase and a small area of
twayblades has appeared. The early purple orchids in Bailey’s woods were once again
abundant this spring and the show of bluebells was quite breathtaking particularly in areas
cleared the previous year. One disappointment this year was the reduced numbers of early
summer wildflowers and butterflies following the excellent spring showing – possibly a result of
the unusual weather experienced last year reducing the over wintering butterflies and the
number of flowers seeded for this year.
They have continued to improve and repair the paths in order to provide access for the local
population and the many summer visitors to Ilfracombe with all cuttings and scrapings raked
onto one side of the paths away from the edges thus giving sources of food and shelter to the
birds and mammals. In January they undertook their annual bird box survey, which this year
included, installing an additional 3 bird boxes and a Tawny Owl box.
We gave an illustrated talk on the history of the Cairn as part of the Ilfracombe Victorian
celebrations and will be running the first of our free Bat Walk and Bug Hunt weekends in early
July. The weekends run last year were highly successful and several of those attending last
year want to come again this year.
We are looking at creating path markers and guide signs on some paths to enable visitors not
familiar with the Cairn to find their way to the main view points and back, and as a policy will
continue to clear bramble etc from more areas on the Cairn in the hope of maintaining and
increasing the improvements seen since last year.

14

Resource Management
North Devon Council promotes recycling and composting. They operate a weekly kerbside
collection for recycling, minimising the amount of waste sent to landfill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the green box
scheme collects glass, metals, plastics, cardboard & paper as well as clean clothes and shoes.
There is a fortnightly alternate black (domestic waste) and green (garden waste) wheelie bin
service with those where wheelie bins cannot be used receiving a weekly black bag collection.
Food Caddies were introduced in 2009 and are collected along with recycling for those without
green wheelie bins, or with the green wheelie bin. Trade waste is collected on a weekly basis
and businesses can pay to have it collected up to three times a week. There are recycling bins
for paper, cans and bottles placed around the town.

Killacleave, on the edge of town, is the local recycling centre and is open seven days a week
throughout the year. Any non commercial waste can be taken there, with the exception of food
waste.
Community Resources (Devon) CIC collect and sort for recycling cardboard, paper, steel and
aluminium cans, plastic containers and plastic film from businesses. They have also started
making pet bedding from newspaper and this side of the business is slowly developing and the
equipment for this is now in place. They have installed public aluminium drinks can recycling
units at the seafront and skateboard park to enhance recycling rates and introduce a new
concept in public recycling. These units allow the public to insert a can and then crush it
themselves. This is a novelty for younger people and helps them to collect an improved
amount of cans from the bins each time they visit, cutting back on their carbon footprint.

Bottles being compacted for recycling

Cardboard for compacting

15

Drinks Can Recycling Unit

Local Heritage
Through the North Devon Plus Joint Delivery Team a new arch has been ereceted at the top of
Fore Street to entice people down to the harbour area. Banners have been created using the
‘curious coastal charm’ theme and are erected onto lamp posts throughout the town for the
summer months. There are also new maps in all the car parks. Having received funding from
ANOB there will soon be more interpretation boards on the South West Coast path through the
town depicting the town’s history, fluara and bird life as well as harbour activites.
Farmers markets are held twice a month in the Lantern Centre, in the High Street, the first
Saturday & third Sunday, selling local produce & crafts. A local company procudes a ‘Local
Farm Box’ that promises to deliver the freshest vegetables and fruits from local farms and
independent producers to the doorstep . The range of fresh produce is vast and as well as fruit
and vegetables includes meat, dairy & eggs.
As part of our marine connection several of our displays have been created using boats that
have been donated to us.

Make me Smile Boat

Sheep by the Landmark

Petroc students art work

Artwork can be found in various places around the town. By the Landmark is the mosaic noting
the achievements of Jonathon Edwards, Olympic Gold medal winner and World Record Triple
jump holder who lived in the town from 1976 to 1987 when his father was the vicar of St Philip
& St James.
Along Wilder Road is a display of pictures titled ‘ECOArt on Prescription’ which was inspired by
the coastline at Wilders Mouth & Capstone Hill. Students from Petroc college took part in a
series of workshops gaining confidence and skill. There are stainless steel people by Bob
Walters, a local artist, in the gardens at the bottom of Northfield Road & in the courtyard to
the Lantern Community Centre in the High Street and this year as part of a Devon Schools
project the local schools decorated sheep.

Jonathon Edwards Mosaic

Steel Men at Northfield Rd

Fore Street & Harbour Arch

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Street Banner

Local Environmental Quality

Transform is the Neighbourhood
Management Programme in North
Devon
Neighbourhood Management is a
way of working that gives local
people more say over the way
their neighbourhood is run... then
brings them together with service
providers to find new ways to
make their communities cleaner,
safer and better

‘Reclaim Your Street’ was an initiative started by Ilfracombe in Bloom in 2010 to encourage
people to look after their own street. We worked with Greener Ilfracombe to design the leaflet,
Transform paid for the printing. This year they have been distributed with the local community
magazine FOCUS.
Dog Fouling – Ilfracombe Street Reps have set up a reporting system on the website, where
residents can register an incident they have spotted. The Five P's (Pin Pointing Pooch Poop
Problems) campaign aims to collate information from reports by residents about dog fouling,
so that hot spots can be identified and steps taken to eradicate the problem. To report an
incident residents can go to the website www.ilfracombestreetreps.org.uk or they can register
an incident at the reception desk in the Ilfracombe Centre. Dog waste bines are supplied by
the North Devon Council and are sited in the parks and open areas of the town. They are
emptied on a regular basis and on the odd occasion where there has been a problem it has
been dealt with the same day.
Cigarette Bins - In 2010 the Ilfracombe Street Reps working with Transform arranged for the
purchase of cigarette litterbins that can be found outside public houses etc. There are also dog
waste bins in all the parks and open spaces.

New Beach Safe Signs

17

Empty Shop painted by students

Pride of Place
Ilfracombe in Bloom has worked along with other groups including local Councillors, Street
Reps, Greener Ilfracombe, the Town Council and Parish Lengthsman to clear weeds and litter
from the streets.

ND Gazette 16.3.2011

North Devon Journal 14th April 2011

Weed Clearing

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Community
Participation

Development & Continuity

Ilfracombe in bloom continues to take over small areas of the town to enhance them for the
good of the town. These include Victoria Place, small plot at the corner of St Brannocks Road &
Bicclescombe Park, Trinity Gardens, Albert Court, Rotary boat at Hillsborough, Wilder Road
gardens and planters on the Harbour Masters Office etc. We are looking to improve the raised
beds at the corner of New Barnstaple Road, to do more work at Trinity gardens and possibly on
the pier by St Nicholas Chapel in the future.
Whenever we are working for Ilfracombe in Bloom we wear visibility jackets which as well as
being a safety measure also advertise the work we are carrying out.

Communication & Education

We have two local newspapers North Devon Journal & North Devon Gazette, both of which are
very good at promoting any projects we are involved in. the North Devon Journal runs a ‘Your
Pics’ photo page where anyone can send in photos and £1 per photo goes to the nominated
cause. Last year Cow Green raised more than £350. Any events we participate in we send in
photos so promoting ourselves to the community. In addition we have two free magazines
FOCUS and EX34.
A new website is being created www.ilfracombeinbloom.co.uk which should go live later this
month. When completed we hope it will be linked to the www.visitilfracombe.co.uk site as well
as www.theilfracombecentre.co.uk so it will be available for residents and visitors to see the
work that we do.

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Community Involvement
Lee Village

Lee, 2 miles to the West of
Ilfracombe forms part of the
West Ward and is part of
Ilfracombe in Bloom. The
picturesque village is situated
in a deep ‘combe’ and is often
referred to locally as "Fuchsia
Valley". During the flowering
season many of the village
hedgerows are ablaze with the
scarlet flowers.
Their hanging baskets are
provided by the Lee Residents
Association. To support this
they hold a Coffee Morning &
Plant Sale in May and a Flower
Show is held in late July

Ilfracombe Schools
Ilfracombe Rotary Club have been working with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;End Polio Nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign. They asked
pupils at the Junior School & Arts College to plant hundreds of purple crocuses in October. Why
purple? When children are vaccinated in India a finger is dipped in purple dye to show they
have been vaccinated

North Devon Journal 14th October 2010

22

Ilfracombe Junior School has various groups from year 3 to year 6 have planted sapling
trees in the woodland area, and helped clear the pond in Ashleigh's garden. The woodland area
is a place where the school does some forest school activities as part of the life-skills
programme, and is currently having newer features added. The pond appears to have a leak so
they are repairing that as a part of the clearing, and it will be redeveloped by 'The Friends of
Ilfracombe Junior School' during the summer.
Ilfracombe Arts College is to get more involved and is starting a horticultural course in
September

Planting in October 2010

Crocuses in March 2011

Ilfracombe Infant School Since last year their gardening project has developed
considerably. This is a result of the enthusiasm of the Head-Teacher and the children and also
through the generous support of the local community. They now use gardening to enhance
their lessons – they planted up a wheelbarrow on the theme of the book ‘Where the Wild
Things Are’.
The County Council gave a grant towards a green house so that they are now able to grow
most of their own plants from seed and garden through the winter. They received a ‘Cutting
Your Waistline Grant’ and are now able to compost not just garden waste but also fruit waste
and the cooked and uncooked food from the school canteen.
The local Rotary Club gave some money and so they were able to plant an orchard of apple
trees. The Lion’s Club are going to give them a pear tree and some fruiting cherry trees.
They have flowering planting pouches to enhance the Foundation Stage patio area and even
the youngest children have got the gardening bug and are busy growing all manner of things
in metre squares outside their classroom.

23

Ilfracombe in Bloom continues to take an active role in Greener
Ilfracombe which is a network of conservation, green space and
horticultural voluntary organisations in the area. All are
involved in preserving, enhancing and regaining community
green space in our densely built town.
Greener Ilfracombe has signed a license to let them turn
some overgrown land at Larkstone into community allotments
to be known as Laston Green. They started to clear the land in
July 2010, with the help of Ilfracombe Healthy Town and
students from the college. The college are planning to start
horticultural based teaching from this September and have expressed an interest in continuing
involvement with developing Laston Green. During the first day of clearing a clump of
Japanese knotweed was found so that was ring-fenced and they are getting it treated. The
cleared site produced a huge amount of rubbish as well as garden waste. A contractor dug out
root balls, lifted and repositioned some trees that were where a path is planned, removed
brambles and rotovated and terraced the area. At the beginning of April 300 fruiting hedge
trees were planted as part of the RHS & Woodlands Trust tree-planting scheme, the remaining
100 were left until the terracing has been completed.
As there is no water on site so they have decided not to start planting until there is some form
of irrigation in place...this is still work in progress so they have decided to plant some root
vegetables in the meantime. Progress is slow, but steady and they envisage that it will really
start to move in the autumn.

Starting Work July 2010

Cleared ready for Hedge Planting

North Devon Journal 14th April 2011

Tree Planting

24

Calf Green went through a slow time but it now has a committee who are getting the things in
order. They have a register of plot-holders, have sorted out the shared spaces and have had
an offer of a greenhouse, so have identified a site for it.

Cow Green Community Garden - The garden was born in 2002 and with the help of many
volunteers. The paths, huge water tanks and railings were installed. Over 100 woodland trees
and willows were donated and planted in the woodland area.
It has been another busy year for Cow Green. Last summer they ran three successful
workshops for children, which were well attended. The children took part in a session about
bees, enjoyed art and craft activities and helped plant new shrubs. There was also story-telling
and cakes on offer. In October they took part in 'make a difference' day, the nationwide
initiative to encourage new volunteers. Despite atrocious weather conditions a few brave
volunteers battled the elements to help plant daffodil bulbs around the garden. They reaped
the benefit in the spring when the garden was enhanced by clusters of daffodils. In January
the garden held the annual bird watch, which was well attended. Despite chilly conditions
many visitors turned out to help count native garden birds. They even had some chickens to
add to our survey!
Cow Green was also successful in gaining a small Town Council Grant to purchase two new
planters. These were built by a local carpenter and are now in place. They took part in the
Greener Ilfracombe event held at the Lantern where they publicised the garden and had a
lucky dip, which raised enough money to purchase some shrubs. Early summer saw the
dismantling of an old arbour to make way for a new area especially for gardeners with mobility
problems, this will be landscaped over the coming months. They welcomed visits from the
Junior School and Terry Elliott gave a talk on consecutive days to all Year 4 classes.
The garden continues to evolve and there have been several donations of plants from local
gardeners. They also received a small grant for some new tools from B&Q, which we were very
grateful for particularly as we had our wheelbarrows stolen. We have a small band of regular
volunteers but we always welcome more.' They have work-ins every Friday between 10 and 12
and there are always volunteers on the garden at that time.

25

Community Resources (Devon) CIC

is a community not for profit company
set up to provide meaningful activities for adults with learning disabilities. The activities
involve community work for local groups and others as well as commercial environmental work
for local businesses. In addition they have an allotment, which is accessed by other groups
with learning disabilities as well as their own service users.
This year they have continued with their gardening work. They have built a Japanese garden at
Ilfracombe Junior School as well as carrying out work on the schools woodland area. Regular
ground maintenance work is still carried out at Cow Green, Calf Green, The Vision Community
Centre at Slade and Ilfracombe Infants School and some further work at Berrynarbor School
clearing paths and hedgerows. Parks work at Bicclescombe Park is still ongoing weekly and
includes carrying out litter picking, planting, weeding, and furniture maintenance. A project to
carry out preparation and planting at the new Oxford Park play area was also completed.
They continue with their recycling operation and have now stared making pet bedding from
newspaper. New aluminium drink can recycling units have been installed on the seafront and
the skate park.
The beekeeping is an ongoing project and provides learning opportunities for the group as well
as helping the natural environment. Work at Chambercombe to enhance the wildlife habitat
continues.
They have diversified the woodwork project at Hele and now recover pallet wood and use this
to produce items such as a picket fence for the allotment, garden chairs, plant troughs and
trellis. The allotment work goes on and they use solar power there to power a pump to draw
water for watering the allotment and they took part in the RHS/Woodland Trust tree planting
campaign in March.
The biggest project this year was the Pitch & Putt course in Ilfracombe. This has provided
numerous opportunities for their group whilst improving a public amenity:
i.
Provides work opportunities for our group such as green and fairway grass cutting,
serving the public from the kiosk, upkeep of the surrounding area and car park.
ii.
Extended opening hours of the facility (7 days a week and a minimum of 8 hours a
day early season)
iii.
The above provides an improved facility for the community and tourist industry of
the town.

North Devon Journal 28th April 2011

26

North Devon Journal 11th June 2011

Oxford Park
Members of Ilfracombe
Junior Citizens first
identified a need for a
play area in this central
part of town.
A redundant grass area
has now been
transformed with gym
equipment, picnic
benches and a dog
walking area.

The Year at a Glance July 20th
July 28th
July 29th
Aug 15th
Aug 16th
Sept 7th
Sept 15th
Sept 16th

Sept 20th

2010/2011 has been another busy year

Judging day for South West in Bloom & Neighbourhood Awards and once again
the rains came down!!
Green Flag for 2010 raised in Bicclescombe Park
Lee Flower Show
Rotary Car Boot at Rugby Club – Raised £78 from bric-a-brac stall
Ilfracombe in Bloom committee meeting
Greener Ilfracombe meeting
Horticultural Society annual show
SW in Bloom awards day in Bath. Very successful day with Ilfracombe in Bloom
getting a Silver Gilt in the Sargent Cup and Community Resources (Devon) CIC
getting the Gordon Ford Trophy for the Best Neighbourhood Award. Other
Neighbourhood Awards were Calf Green Allotments – Improving & Cairn
Conservation Carers – Thriving.
Ilfracombe Town Mayor presented Gordon Ford Trophy to Community Resources

27

Sept 26th
Hanging baskets, towers etc taken down
Oct 1st
Rotary & schools involved in planting crocus bulbs for eradicating polio’ project.
Oct 3rd to 5th summer bedding removed from boats and St Brannocks planters and replanted
with primulas. All troughs removed, cuttings taken from begonias & geraniums
to grow on for 2011.
Oct 12th
Ilfracombe in Bloom committee meeting
th
Oct 20
Bicclescombe Park User Group meeting
Nov 9th
Quiz at George & Dragon – raised £200
Dec 2nd
Strategy meeting about Seafront development
2011
Jan 5th
Greener Ilfracombe meeting
Jan 13th
Greener Ilfracombe meeting to discuss open day
Jan 19th
Bicclescombe Park User Group meeting
Jan 21st
Meeting with North Devon council re Trinity Place & War Memorial Gardens
Jan 24th
Ilfracombe in Bloom meeting
Feb 3rd
Greener Ilfracombe Open Day meeting
Feb 7th
Ordered 105 all year round colour trees from RHS Britain in Bloom/Woodlands
Trust for the native tree-planting project.
Feb 8th
Quiz at George & Dragon – raised £250
Feb 16th
Meeting at Ilfracombe Town Council offices with representatives from North
Devon Council, Devon County Council, Ilfracombe Town Council to discuss how
with reduced budgets we can work together to make sure the town does not
suffer.
Feb 28th
Greener Ilfracombe meeting
March 8th
Meeting with North Devon Council re tree planting at skate park
March 12th
Green Ilfracombe Open Day including question & answer session – Successful
day with lots of local interest. Raised £25 with second hand bookstall.
March 16th
Ilfracombe in Bloom AGM & presentation of awards to Local Garden Competition
winners. Followed by buffet. Raffle raised £47
th
March 26
Tree Planting at Skate Park with help of young park users & Transform
March 29th
Quiz at George & Dragon – raised £150
March 31st
Meeting with Joint Delivery Scheme to discuss planters for Broad Street/Fore
Street
April 2nd
Open day at Round House for Cairn Carers
April 14th
Ilfracombe in Bloom meeting
April 16th
Community Resources CIC official opening of Larkstone Pitch & Putt
April 17th
Clean up day at Trinity Place
April 20th
Easter Treasure Hunt in Bicclescombe Park – more than 1000 attended
Bicclescombe Park User Group meeting
April 28th
Bicclescombe Park mosaics repaired – Karen Hawkins working with Community
Resources group.
May 7th
Bicclescombe Park Open Day – Ilfracombe in Bloom had a stall selling vegetable
plants donated by a local person and raised £60
May 8th
Tabletop sale of bric-a-brac at Landmark Pavilion – only raised £10
May 11th
Greener Ilfracombe meeting
May 18th
Planters in Broad Street/Fore Street planted up
May
Boats, planters & Troughs all planted
May 28th
Poles go on Harbour Masters Office ready for cruise ship arriving

Funding & Support
In addition to the financial sponsorship we have received we have also had help with
materials and plants from North Devon Council to carry out projects and goods at reduced
rates from local suppliers. We have been involved with several fund raising events where we
have had stalls selling plants, which we have grown on ourselves, and bric-a-brac. The
Ilfracombe & District Tourism Association arranged three quiz nights through the winter
months at the George & Dragon where a total of ÂŁ600.00 was raised.
We are very grateful to all our sponsors for their continued support. Without their help our
displays would be depleted as we can only do as our funding will allow.

North Devon Journal 18th November 2010

North Devon Journal 31st March 2011

2011 Sponsors

The Future
We will continue to look at areas
where we can put more permanent
planting and perennials. Also we
would like to encourage homeowners
on a small estate to take ownership of
their communal areas.

29

Filers Travel Ltd
Ilfracombe & District Tourism
Association
North Devon District Councillors
Ilfracombe Lions Club
Ilfracombe Rotary Club
Ilfracombe Town Council
John Fowler Holidays
Mullacott Park
Plus numerous small donations